GROUP STUDY EXCHANGE

GSE District 1060 Chairman - Peter Ramage

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GSE District 1060 Team Leader - David J Brain

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| Team Leader Qualifications | Team Member Qualifications | Financial Responsibilities |

| District Arrangements |

Objectives

The Rotary Foundation Group Study Exchange Programme is a unique educational experience for young business and professional persons, designed to advance international understanding and goodwill through an extensive and rigorous programme of international travel and participatory activities through:

Vocational Activities

Provide opportunities to observe vocations as practiced in another country, while impacting their long term careers through participation in an organised programme of study, discussion and vocational visits, thereby allowing for a reciprocal exchange of ideas in their respective fields, which ultimately will benefit all communities involved;

Cultural Experiences

Allow participants to study another country, its people and institutions through experience in an organised and meaningful host programme, and to promote an appreciation of cultural diversity worldwide;

Fellowship Opportunities

Encourages team members and hosts to meet, communicate and live with each other in a spirit of fellowship and goodwill, to consider each other's problems, aspirations and community concerns, and to develop lasting friendships and understanding; and

Rotarian Involvement

Offers Rotarians specific, practical and meaningful opportunities for International Service in providing young, formative professionals an experienced perspective of their vocation in another country and culture. Furthermore, to offer Rotarians the opportunity to participate in the process of sending, receiving and sharing educational experiences of study teams that will enhance the worldwide mission of Rotary.

District arrangements

District 1060 has taken the opportunity, on an annual basis, to participate in the Group Study Exchange (GSE) programme with another District in the Rotary World. The District Governor Elect has the responsibility for making the initial contact with another District. If direct contact is not possible for any reason then Rotary International Headquarters will put unmatched Districts in contact. Efforts are made to ensure that a wide mixture of Districts are involved.

The Rotary Charity, Rotary Foundation, funds the cost of the exchange which is available to every District in the Rotary world from the contributions made by each and every Rotarian. Additional financial contributions are made by District 1060 so that the financial burden on Team members is kept to a minimum.

Group Study Exchange gives the ordinary Rotarian the opportunity to participate in one of Rotary's objectives, i.e. to further international understanding, either by hosting one of the incoming team members or by listening to their presentations around the District and learning about their culture together with their professional experiences.

The GSE programme involves young business and professional people, aged between 25 and 40 who are in full time employment. A team usually consists of 4 team members plus a Rotarian Team Leader. Team members can have no relationship with Rotarians. Wives or partners cannot be included in the exchange. Team members and the Team Leader normally stay in Rotarians' homes in the country to be visited for a week at a time before moving onto a new host for the following week. As can be seen from the objectives the GSE programme sets out to provide a balanced programme of Vocational, Cultural and Business experiences throughout the duration of the visit with at least one day per week devoted to each Team member's particular vocation.

The exchange gives participants a unique opportunity to experience the culture of the country (countries) that they are visiting and access to centres of excellence both in business and commerce.

The following quotes from reports prepared by the members of a recent team illustrate what they, as participants, thought of the visit.

"the GSE programme was extremely enjoyable and beneficial"
"the exposure to such a different culture was hugely enlightening"
"by then nothing could phase us as we had got used to a public performance"
"Visiting the projects was a humbling experience and I felt I wanted to make a bigger contribution to society"
"the one thing that will stay in my memory for a long time is the people we met they were so friendly and hospitable"
"Overall this has been a fantastic opportunity"

Due to pressure on the available funds the Rotary Foundation Trustees have decreed that exchanges will take place over two years.

If you want to know how

• to become a Team Leader in 2007/2008,
• to register an interest to join the Team to go out to America in 2008
• to nominate someone who might be suitable as a Team member
• to become a host for the incoming team, a role which should not be underrated

then contact Andrew Guest 01926 855268 or E-Mail Andrew Guest

Rotary District 1060 GSE

TEAM LEADER

Qualifications, Responsibilities and Attributes

Qualifications

The Team leader must

• be an experienced Rotarian from District 1060, preferably with a past or present involvement in International Service, well informed on current issues and on Rotary particularly in District 1060.
• not be an immediate past DG or DGE. Other past district governors may serve as team leader where special issues such as language, vocation or other needs results in the PDG being chosen as the best qualified candidate. The team leader need not have held any previous district office.
• not be accompanied by a spouse, companion or other relative on the tour.
• remain with the team throughout the exchange, except in the case of separate study activities. Under no circumstances should the team leader plan to leave the tour before its conclusion.

Responsibilities

The Team leader must

• take an active and leading role in the team's pre-departure preparations to ensure that they are thoroughly acquainted with the aims, objectives and ideals of Rotary and particularly the GSE programme. Organise flights, uniforms, promotional aids etc.
• liaise with the District GSE Sub-Committee chairman as the need arises.
• be prepared to co-ordinate the team's speaking engagements for a period of twelve months following their return.
• be available to attend District Conference with the team in October and make a presentation to the delegates.

Attributes

The Team leader must

• take complete charge of the team, possess good interpersonal communication skills to act as advisor and counsellor when the need arises and to act as liaison between the team and the host clubs. Knowledge of the language of the Country to be visited would be an additional useful asset. (Language training can be arranged before departure if necessary)
• be used to public speaking or addressing large groups.
• be able to build a well-informed and cohesive group to represent the District.
• help team members prepare their presentations, which they will be asked to give at Rotary meetings and other functions. Also to help plan and participate in the presentation that will be given to the host district's conference.
• have sufficient time to dedicate to the pre-departure arrangements and be able to take time off, if appropriate, for the six weeks of the exchange.
• be physically capable of keeping pace with a hectic programme of activities that will undoubtedly be planned for the team.

Rotary District 1060 GSE

Attributes and Qualifications of Team Members

Prospective Team members must be:

• aged between 25 and 40 at the time of selection
• employed in a business or profession on a full time basis
• resident or work within the boundaries of District 1060
• citizens of the UK
• in good health ( a medical certificate will have to be provided before travel)
• able to express themselves clearly and logically
• be of a sound educational background and well qualified in their particular vocation
• interested in and clearly enthusiastic about their chosen vocation
• open minded, tolerant and flexible
• able to obtain 6 weeks off work and be able to confirm this at the time of the interview

Team members cannot be:

• a Rotarian or an Honorary Rotarian
• a member of a provisional Rotary Club, an employee of a Rotary Club, District or other Rotary entity or of Rotary International.
• a Rotarian's (or Honorary Rotarian's) or Rotary employee's spouse, ancestor or lineal descendant (child or grandchild by blood or a legally adopted child) or a spouse of a lineal descendant
• the spouse of another team member
• a former Rotarian or lineal descendant who resigned for the express purpose of becoming a team member. A former Rotarian must have resigned from Rotary for at least three years at the time of application to be eligible for selection.

Qualities of potential Team members:

• be a 'Team player' and be prepared to work together with the Team leader and other Team members to form a cohesive, well prepared team to represent District 1060.
• have a good general knowledge particularly of the West Midlands.
• ideally have some IT skills with knowledge of Power Point presentations.
• preferably have good presentational skills or experience in addressing meetings, large and small.

Commitment required:

• be able to commit themselves to the pre-departure training and preparation meetings - possibly weekly from Christmas onwards
• be available to attend the District Conference in the October following the exchange to make a presentation to the delegates. (Accommodation costs will be paid by the District)
• agree to visit a number of Rotary Clubs, on their return, singly or in groups, to give a presentation on the exchange.
• comply with the requirements in respect of Insurance, medical checks and travel documents at their own expense.

Rotary District 1060 GSE

Team Members' Financial Responsibilities

Rotary International states that the following expenses are the responsibility of the individual Team Members.

• Personal and incidental expenses
• Visa, Passport and inoculation expenses
• Costs of obtaining Certificate of medical fitness
• Transportation to and from the common point of departure within District 1060
• Transportation to and from airports
• Excess baggage charges
• Insurance cover to the minimum levels specified by Rotary International
• The cost of any additional travel after the completion of the study tour
• Any increase in airfares resulting from avoidable delay in completing pre-departure arrangements on schedule.
• The cost of supplying a co-ordinated team uniform in addition to those costs set out below. The style etc. to be agreed amongst the team.
• Small gifts for hosts throughout the visit. Normally one host per week but on occasion it could be two.

However District 1060 will pay for a Team blazer for each member and contribute towards the cost of other clothing to a maximum of £100 per person including the cost of the blazer. The District will also provide blazer badges and contribute towards the cost of name badges, 'business cards' and Team leaflets.